Suzanne Lerner

President of Michael Stars | Activist | Advocate for Gender Equality

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

A young woman named MacKenzie Tuttle graduated from Princeton in 1992 with a degree in English. One of her professors was Toni Morrison, who later described her as one of the finest creative writing students she had ever taught.

After graduation, MacKenzie took a job at the New York investment firm D. E. Shaw. There she met a colleague named Jeff Bezos, who had an ambitious idea: selling books on the internet.

She didn’t laugh at the idea.

They married in 1993, and the following year drove across the country to the Seattle area to build what would become Amazon.

In the beginning, there was no global empire.

There was a garage.

MacKenzie handled accounting, wrote business materials, answered customer emails and phone calls, and packed orders alongside Jeff. Like many startups, everyone did whatever needed to be done.

As Amazon grew, MacKenzie stepped away from day-to-day operations to raise their four children while continuing to pursue her own passion for writing.

Her debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright, won the American Book Award. She later published a second novel and quietly built a respected literary career.

Meanwhile, the story of Amazon became one of the most famous business stories ever told.

Jeff Bezos became one of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs.

MacKenzie’s role was rarely part of the public narrative.

She never seemed interested in changing that.

What many people don’t know is that she also knew financial hardship.

Her family filed for bankruptcy while she was still a student, and she has spoken about the kindness of people who helped her through difficult times—acts of generosity she never forgot.

In 2019, after her divorce, MacKenzie Scott received approximately 4% of Amazon’s shares.

Almost immediately, she made a decision that surprised the world.

She signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate the majority of her wealth during her lifetime.

Then she did something even more unusual.

Instead of building a massive public foundation or attaching her name to buildings, she began giving away billions of dollars through large, unrestricted grants.

Universities.

Food banks.

Housing organizations.

Rural communities.

Women’s health initiatives.

Tribal colleges.

Climate organizations.

Small nonprofits that had never imagined receiving gifts of that size.

Many recipients reportedly thought the phone calls were scams.

They weren’t.

Since 2019, MacKenzie Scott has donated tens of billions of dollars to thousands of organizations, making her one of the most significant philanthropists of the modern era.

Despite giving away enormous sums, her fortune has remained substantial because of Amazon’s continued growth.

The woman who once packed Amazon’s first orders is now helping fund opportunities for millions of people she will probably never meet.

She never asked for buildings in her name.

She never demanded headlines.

Sometimes the greatest legacy isn’t the company you help build.

It’s what you choose to do with the success that follows.

[Lica World @world_lica]

@Suzanne_Lerner @MichaelStarsInc → How to take a stand without being performative

→ What most brands get wrong about activism

→ Why she kept 75% of manufacturing in LA

→ The risks (and rewards) of speaking out

→ Micro-influencers > mega-influencers

→ The true cost of fast fashion

[MAGA are MORONS @getawaytwo]

Fox refuses to air this…you know what to do..#ProudBlue

[Van Jones @VanJones68]

VP Kamala Harris was in her element today— shining bright with Charlamagne Tha God. She gave ALL the specifics about how she will bolster the work, wealth and health of black Americans. Just as business leaders, labor leaders, farmers, women and immigrants have a right to know specifically how her agenda will impact them — the black community also had questions. Those questions have been answered! She killed it!

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

They aren't illegal, they didn't "descend" upon a town, and they're not destroying anyone's way of life.

What would destroy our American way of life is if this kind of lying, bigotry, demagoguery, and incitement were to prevail. We cannot let that happen.

Never Trump.

[Abigail Disney @abigaildisney]

I am extremely proud to be part of this huge group of wealthy people tired of watching society consistently subvert the interests of the whole to the silfiah wants of the lucky few.

[Mira Sorvino @MiraSorvino]

Seeing that Woody Allen is trending, & as the world seemingly has a short memory, I leave this here: Exclusive: Mira Sorvino's Open Letter To Dylan Farrow | HuffPost Women https://t.co/xUwIIEoobL

[Suzanne Lerner @Suzanne_Lerner]

@micheleweldon @USATODAY @womenjournos @TheOpEdProject congrats!!

[LaTosha Brown @MsLaToshaBrown]

I truly believe that if we invest in the leadership of Black women leaders in the south we will shift not only the south but the entire political and social landscape of the nation. I’m really proud of our executive leadership program at @Kennedy_School.

https://t.co/IMkTsg0Fum

[The Bridge Of San Luis Rey Remastered @BridgeSLRey]

When the Bridge of San Luis Rey collapses, 5 travellers fall into the gorge below. Was it destiny or the hand of God that brought them together at that fatal moment?

Get your pre-order of this star-studded remastered film now https://t.co/z5NepzSSRN!

#RobertDeNiro #HarveyKeitel

[United Farm Workers @UFWupdates]

As you gather with friends and family this Thanksgiving, think about the farm workers who contributed to each dish. Tell us your favorite ingredients and we will show you the skilled work behind it. #WeFeedYou

[Suzanne Lerner @Suzanne_Lerner]

congrats @HithaPalepu

[Susan Spector McPherson @susanmcp1]

Congrats to @HithaPalepu and all "The Women of Color Making Major Waves in Corporate America" via @digundiv
and @Cosmopolitan. A beautiful and bold list of stars! https://t.co/2mr00ZCcy0

[Way To Win @WayToWinAF]

Alrighty everyone. The last day to vote is in one week and six days. In the words of @anatosaurus, it is time to buck the f#$(& up. So here’s our comprehensive and strong closing argument, as a visual 🧵:

[Suzanne Lerner @Suzanne_Lerner]

Michael Stars X #iamavoter thanks henry!

[Henry Winkler @hwinkler4real]

I KNOW … so stylish … BUT the message is hot ..REGISTER

[Robert Reich @RBReich]

Quick recap: Billionaires are not “self-made.” They’re made via a combination of inherited wealth, government subsidies, tax loopholes, labor exploitation, and policy failures.

Can we stop perpetuating a myth that blames the wealth gap on the choices of everyday Americans?

[The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales @amerdreamdoc]

A comment @AbigailDisney made on @SquawkCNBC three years ago about CEO pay was the spark that ignited her fire for telling the story of inequality thru the lens of Disney. 🔥 So great to see her back on this AM, the day before #AmericanDreamDoc comes out! https://t.co/xV4mpR0lVq

[Abigail Disney @abigaildisney]

Oh Kit. You are so wise.